6 early symptoms of breast cancer that are too easy to miss

(Sara Lindberg/ SELF) –– Recognizing the early symptoms of breast cancer can make a huge difference in the progression of the disease. The sooner you identify it and get started on treatment, the better chances you’ll have of making a full recovery. But knowing what, exactly, to look for and what types of changes warrant a conversation with your doctor can be a tad confusing.

That’s because the symptoms of breast cancer can look and feel different from person to person. They also vary depending on the type of breast cancer and the location where it forms—for instance, behind the nipple versus toward the chest wall, Meghan R. Flanagan, MD, MPH, a surgical oncologist specializing in breast health at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, tells SELF.

Recognizing the early symptoms of breast cancer can make a huge difference in the progression of the disease. The sooner you identify it and get started on treatment, the better chances you’ll have of making a full recovery. But knowing what, exactly, to look for and what types of changes warrant a conversation with your doctor can be a tad confusing. (…)